NEW ORLEANS — New Orleansians say that before Katrina, New Orleans East was a mini-metropolis, but nearly twenty years later, the landscape looks very different.
Councilman Oliver Thomas is asking what needs to change to give residents in the East an opportunity and options. He wants to see fewer dollar stores and tire shops.
New Orleans East means something different to many of us, Reginald Rowe, who has a security business, said. Rowe has very fond memories of and created in the East. He said, "This area has been essential for my very upbringing and who I am today, New Orleans East has always been a special place."
But what once was is no more. Rowe said, "This area is very important to me. My family lives out here, we have businesses here, and my uncle has a church in New Orleans East."
Aside from the Winn Dixie on Chef Menteur and the Walmart on Bullard Avenue, there are no other supermarket options for those living in New Orleans East, where roughly one-fifth of the city's population resides.
Rowe said, "Sometimes you have to go to Slidell. Sometimes you have to go Uptown."
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That's where Councilman Oliver Thomas comes in, he wants to diversify the playbook that is New Orleans East, so residents in his district have access to retail options.
Thomas told WWL Louisiana, "The people in New Orleans East, the Lower 9 and other communities, they should have the option to determine whether they want to drive 10, 15 or 20 minutes somewhere else... it should not be a necessity."
He went on to say, "There are places that are smaller than our combined population, that have access to more diverse retail, more diverse shopping, more diverse opportunity."
Councilman Thomas has garnered a study focusing on understanding challenges, finding resources and free space in his district, because he wants to see less discount retailers, beauty supply and tire shops.
"Let's take the T in tourism and let's change it to team, but this time we're going to partner with the people."
The study, which was commissioned by the city council, will be released by the end of April or early May.
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